. >> pam: today the pentagon held a farewell ceremony for retiring defense secretary leon panetta. the 74-year-old panetta.. plans to remain on the job for another couple of weeks, while his llikely successor. former senator chuck hagel. awaits senate approval. panetta spent nearly four decades in washington as a congressman from california. federal budget director. white house chief of staff. and c-i-a director. where he oversaw the operation that killed osama bin laden. >> it's been for me, a hell of a ride. i will never forget the pride and exhilaration when i walked out of the white house after the president announced the success of the bin laden operation. >> pam: president barack obama praised the military's progress under panetta's watchful eye. pointing to the repeal of a ban on gays openly serving in the military. and the recent expansion of combat roles for women. >> the secret service is investigating the publication of private photographs of former presidents george h-w bush and george w bush. they appear to have been stolen from family e-mail accounts. the e-mails appe